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To My Strong-Willed Child, I See You

My dear strong-willed child, I see you. You might not think that I do, but I really do see you. Through the long and tiresome (did I mention long) evening clean-ups when picking up just one more block seems like an astronomical feat you just CANNOT complete, I see you. Through the preschool work meltdowns when coloring one more leaf on a plant appears to be your personal Mt. Everest, I see you. When you stand there and grimace with pursed lips and nose scrunched just before you release a giant-sized “No! I don’t want to!” I still see you. It might not seem like I do as I hover over you, teeth gritted, barking out orders and threats of discipline as you act out once again. But when tempers calm and you climb meekly into my lap nuzzled closely to my heart and whisper, “I love you, Mommy,” what I’ve been seeing all along is that much clearer. Yes, you are my strong-willed child, but you are so much more.

You are my little leader. It’s obvious as you step into the preschool room the affect you have on the kids around you. They watch what you do. They ask to play with you. And even when you’re bad and push or hit one of these friends, they forgive easily and beg to play with you again. One day you and these other littles will be the big kids, then teenagers, then adults; and you will have a choice to make in each of these stages of life. Will you use that stubbornness and stand-my-ground attitude to lead others toward wise, good decisions, or will you lead them to foolish, reprehensible decisions that will cost you and them far more than you want to pay? You see, your strong will is a gift. It might as well be a super power. Wield it well, my love.

You are ingenuity at its finest … perhaps a little too smart for your own good. When you hear “No” what really processes in that inquisitive mind is “not that way.” So if you couldn’t get that piece of candy by asking, you’ll find a way to make it happen by yourself; and, of course, make sure Mommy is pre-occupied before making your move. With that mind, one day you’ll accomplish greatness. When critics say “you can’t,” you’ll say “watch me.” They say “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” but I say “where there’s a strong will, there are 100 ways.” And you, my darling, will find every last one of them.

You are fiercely independent. The evidence is in your objections to my assistance offered at bath time, teeth brushing time, getting dressed time, and basically every other “time” of the day… except, of course, those times you simply don’t want to … like clean-up time … sigh … but, oh, the battles you’ve waged over doing it all by yourself! One day this independence will drive you to the top. You’ll get that promotion, that raise, that bonus all on your own because in your eyes, there won’t be any other option. You’ll work harder than your peers when your mind is made up about what you really want. And you won’t quit until it’s yours. You, my dear, are a fighter.

As you grow and I’m faced with the struggle between reigning in that strong will and encouraging your growth through it, my heart and hope is to nurture that fire within you, grow it to greatness, not squelch it with my smothering grasp. I pray you’ll use that strong will to change your piece of the planet. After all, all it takes is a little leadership, ingenuity, and independence to change the world as we know it. You, my little one, are a game changer, and even when you don’t think I do, I see you.

**This post was written by Stephanie Gilbert and originally appeared on iliterallylol.com

Wow, I Literally Wept When This Adulterous Wife Texted Her Husband, “Can I Come Home?”

She grew up believing love was a weakness and clung to that lie even after marrying a godly man. Watch how God destroyed her life to make it beautiful again.

Christian Girl Is Burned to Death by ISIS but Her Final 2 Words Prove That God Wins

They torched their house while the daughter was in the shower—she died in her mother's arms.

“I Whipped Around and Let That Man Have It. I Told Him Off”: Elderly Lady in Grocery Store Sticks Up for Stranger With Autism

"He took up a lot of space. Moving around us. Weaving in and out of the aisles. Some ladies were annoyed. An old man behind us snickered and under his breath said, ‘hurry up.’"